Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei set on fire by her boyfriend

Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan distance runner who recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has died after being set on fire by her boyfriend. The attack occurred in her home in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, where Cheptegei is currently residing.

According to local police, Cheptegei was targeted by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, who allegedly purchased a jerrycan of petrol, doused her with it, and then ignited the flames during a heated argument. The attack resulted in severe burns covering 75% of her body. Both Cheptegei and Ndiema are now undergoing treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom provided details of the incident, which reportedly took place on Sunday. The altercation reportedly centered around a dispute over property, as the couple had been arguing about the land where their house was situated. Cheptegei had purchased the land to be closer to the county’s numerous athletic training facilities, aiming to enhance her training and performance.

Cheptegei’s parents have expressed their distress over the incident, highlighting their daughter’s commitment to her athletic career and her efforts to establish herself in the area.

This tragic event comes in the wake of other high-profile incidents involving athletes in the region. In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds, and in 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was discovered deceased, with a postmortem revealing she had been strangled.

The local community and sports fans are deeply shocked by this latest tragedy, and there is a growing call for justice and support for Cheptegei during her recovery.